Agenda item

The Senior Performance Officer attended the meeting to provide the update for the Public Protection and Enforcement Performance Overview. She stated that she would be talking through the indicators that had been flagged red.

The first red indicator noted was indicator 2A which was related to the awareness of events and training to groups. The second indicator noted was indicator 2C which related to test purchase operations. Both of these areas had been affected by Covid and Lockdown which had prevented the teams from hitting their targets.

A note was made that indicator 4E had also been affected, and this related to the issuing of licences for HMOs.

Attention was drawn to indicators 4G and 4H which were the new fly tipping performance indicators on the Portfolio Plan. 4G was the total number of open fly-tipping investigations—there were currently 32 cases under investigation. 4H detailed the number of actions undertaken where evidence was available. Fifty-Two cases had to be closed due to lack of evidence.

A Member asked if test purchases could still be undertaken if supermarkets were open. It was noted that a decision had been taken not to do this to safeguard young people from the Covid 19 virus. 

A Member commented that HMO’s were (in due course) going to fall under the remit of Article 4, he sought clarification concerning what progress had been made regarding this, and whether or not this could make enforcement with respect to HMOs easier. A Member (who was also the Chairman of the Development Control Committee) responded that this area of policy was a work in progress, but she was anticipating that a report concerning this matter would be presented to the Development Control Committee in March.

The Committee noted the Portfolio Holder update that had been submitted to the Committee in writing before the meeting. 

The Portfolio Holder update showed that between October and December (and including up to 10th Jan 2021) officers checked 1,863 businesses in the borough. The vast majority of businesses in the borough had been compliant and were seeking to operate within the spirit of the guidelines.

Reference was made to the Approved Trader Scheme. It was noted that LBB had been party to a business agreement with Checkatrade.com, but this partnership was due to end in March 2021. Members were pleased to note that the Council had been in contact with Kent County Council Trading Standards who were delivering their own scheme and had invited LBB to join. Their offer was based on the ‘Checkatrade’ format and would include free business advice to Bromley members.

Members heard that there would be a one-off upfront cost to LBB which was for web development and content, design, back office set up and testing, but LBB would receive payment for every trader who joined and would break even once Membership got to 158. The Chairman enquired as to its cost. The Portfolio Holder did not wish to disclose the cost at the meeting, but she did provide an assurance that the cost did not have any significant budgetary implications, and in a short while it was expected that the scheme would break even. 

Members noted the update from the Portfolio Holder with respect to the Violence Reduction Action Plan (VRAP). On the 6th January, Steve Bending, (Head of Policing & Commissioning from the Violence Reduction Unit at City Hall) had provided feedback on Bromley’s VRAP to the Leader and Chief Executive. The summary feedback was:

“This is a commendably comprehensive action plan that demonstrates a strong partnership approach to reduce violence and vulnerability in Bromley. The borough developed an impressive plan last year and it is good to see how this has progressed further, with the inclusion of some innovative activity and a collective sense of leadership demonstrated throughout.”

The Portfolio Holder provided an update with respect to VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls).  Bromley had been successful in a joint bid with Croydon, Sutton and the Met Police Service South Basic Command Unit, to bring the ‘Drive’ perpetrator programme to Bromley.

It was noted that this was MOPAC funded, and initially for 14 months, commencing in February 2021. There would be two launches; a strategic launch across the three boroughs and a local operational launch for Bromley, followed by a Task and Finish Group for the nominated Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Panel members. The Portfolio Holder would be attending the strategic launch on 12^th February. 

Members were briefed that the Portfolio Holder had approved revisions to HMO Licence fees, and a detailed breakdown of these was provided in the update document that had been disseminated previously.

The  Portfolio Holder briefed the Committee that professional dog walkers and residents with multiple dogs now needed a £200 licence to exercise their dogs in a public space or risk a £100 Fixed Penalty Notice. The licences applied to anyone walking five or six dogs at any one time in a public space within the borough of Bromley, including parks. No more than six dogs could be walked in a public place and a licence was not necessary for anyone walking less than five dogs.

The licence had to be displayed in a fluorescent armband and Public Liability Insurance (£1 million cover minimum) was required before issue. The new licence aimed to encourage responsible dog ownership and adherence to the code of conduct. 

A Member asked who would be responsible for any enforcement action that would be required with respect to the multiple dog walker licence. It was noted that this would be undertaken by Ward Security.

RESOLVED that

1)  The Public Protection Performance Overview report and the update from the Portfolio Holder be noted.

2)  Members be updated in due course concerning HMOs falling under the remit of  Article 4 directions.